‘Rift’ surfaces between AAP, Cong ahead of mayoral poll

Ahead of the mayoral elections in the city, differences seem to have appeared between the alliance partners — the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

According to sources, the Congress councillors left an official tea party hosted by Kuldeep Kumar, the alliance-led Mayor, in the afternoon. The abrupt walkout has raised questions about the stability of the alliance between the Congress and the AAP.

The event, held in the municipal corporation’s conference room at 2 pm, was intended to be a gesture of gratitude by the Mayor to councillors and officials for their support during his tenure. Invitations had been extended to all city councilors — elected and nominated — as well as senior MC officials, including the Municipal Commissioner and Joint Commissioners.

Five Congress councillors Taruna Mehta, Darshana, Nirmala Devi, Jasbir Bunty, and Sachin Galav arrived around 2.30 pm, but left minutes after the party started. Sources in the Congress revealed that they were summoned back by senior Congress leadership for a meeting at the Congress Bhawan.

On the calling back of councillors, city unit Congress president HS Lucky stated that their party was determined to defeat the BJP in the upcoming mayoral polls. However, he acknowledged a communication gap with the AAP. “There has been no communication from their side and no consensus has been reached regarding candidates or the allocation of posts.”

Hinting at Congress’ intention to field its councillor for the mayoral post, Lucky remarked, “We supported AAP’s mayoral candidate last time, but there was no agreement that the Mayor would always be from AAP. Given the municipal corporation’s acute financial crisis, an experienced leader is essential and Congress councillors are well-equipped for such a role,” he added.

Stating that there was a lack of coordination with the AAP, Lucky said: “The AAP appears either too busy handling internal party issues or overly confident about its chances in the upcoming elections.”

In the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP has 14 councillors. The AAP has 13 councillors and the Congress seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has just one councillor in the House. It also has an ex-officio member, Congress MP Manish Tewari, who has voting rights.

AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar assumed the office of Mayor on February 20, 2024, whose term of one year will be completed on February 19, 2025. However, the UT Administration has decided to hold the mayoral elections in the last week of January as per the Municipal Corporation Act. After last year’s vote-rigging issue, the AAP has been demanding that as per the resolution passed in the General House of the MC held on October 29, 2024, the election of Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor should be conducted by show of hands instead of secret ballot.

However, the UT Administration is yet to give its approval to the resolution passed by the MC.

Refuting the allegations of non-coordination, AAP leader and Mayor Kuldeep Kumar said that AAP’s city unit co-in-charge SS Ahluwalia, who is Chairman of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, was in Delhi and as soon as he arrived, they would hold a meeting and discuss the mayoral elections with the Congress. “We will not go ahead without the Congress and will take them into confidence before taking any decision,” he added.

Experts say that if the both parties part ways, it will benefit the BJP in the coming mayoral elections.